CQ West: Unfolding Stories 4

Leaving IV 51cm x 51cm
This series is a reaction to the death of my husband a year ago. Designing the work was
a great help and, as I went on, I decided I wanted each piece to convey any kind of
feeling of ‘leaving’ that might suggest itself to the viewer. It doesn’t necessarily have to
be a feeling of sadness and loss. Bewilderment was one of the emotions I felt at the time
and, for some reason, I kept imagining John disappearing into a vortex, or perhaps a
maelstrom of my confusion and I was compelled to make this piece.
I start with a drawing which I then size up using an app on my computer. Using a light
box I trace some basic lines onto white cotton and add further detail in pencil
afterwards. I paint with fabric paints and sometimes add appliqued pieces, which I paint
separately, to give depth and weight to the work. Each piece is then heavily free-motion
stitched using a lot of different colours and threads.
Leaving II 51cm x 51cm (opposite)